Descriptive Essay
Finely formed words that illuminate and inform are the foundation of the delightful descriptive essay. Seriously, that is a bit over the top but it is true that the descriptive essay wants more creative prose than other kinds of essays. The nature of the descriptive essay lends itself to essays about experience or case study rather than pure fact. As such successful descriptive essays frequently center on themes of personal drama or growth or a cathartic event.
The top 10 descriptive essay topics are about:
- Important people
- Unique experiences
- Significant events
- Emotional events
- Historic reenactment
- Pets or family members
- World events
- Life’s lessons
- Fictional places or characters
- Future places or people
No matter what the subject a great descriptive essay is created using all the senses to compel the reader to experience the event as if they were there. A good rule of thumb is to say that if the reader is unable to clearly form impressions of what you are describing you have not yet done your job. Other tips for creating a descriptive essay are:
Organize and Outline
Like all prose, the descriptive essay must be easy to follow and the surest way to make sure this happens is to create an outline that logically takes the reader through the course of events. Some students think that creative license is equivalent to tangential and that is a big mistake. A descriptive essay is still an academic document and research, grammar and syntax remain as important as ever.
Brainstorm ideas
Mind mapping is a super technique for getting creative juices flowing. If for example you are choosing to write about a day at the beach you might start with beach and branch off into sand, shells, and other things you might find in the sand. You might then move onto the water and then the interaction of the sand and the water. Jotting down words in a stream of consciousness style will take you down some interesting paths and provide some great ideas for your descriptive essay. From these words compile descriptive lists and before you know it, you will have ample information to research and write from.
Edit for grammar and language
Chose words carefully, particularly for their relevancy in relation what you are describing. Attempt to show the reader what you are describing rather than telling them what is there. Adjectives are welcome in descriptive essays and should be used to make events and people interesting.
Employ the senses
Remember, if you are describing something, you need to be appealing to the senses of the reader. Remember show don’t tell the reader what the sensory experience is like, help them to smell the air, feel the chill, listen to the foghorns in the distance while they taste the saltiness on the wind and see the ships in the harbor
Illuminate
Use vivid language to form tangible images in the mind of the reader. Choose words that offer nuance that leads the reader to anticipation and then revelation.
Appeal to the readers emotions
If you can describe emotions or feelings related to your topic, you will connect with the reader on a deeper level and prompt them to want more. Tap into the reader’s emotional reservoir to create a moving descriptive essay
Finish with a bang!
Complete the descriptive essay with a revelation, a cliffhanger or a moral dilemma and they will think about the meaning and story of the descriptive essay long after they have finished reading it and you will have achieved literary success.
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